Hospitals brace for impact of doctors' strike

Doctors outside Hull Royal Infirmary on Friday morning

A five-day strike involving resident doctors will result in some patients in East Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire having hospital appointments postponed, NHS bosses said.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA), who work in hospitals in Hull, Goole, Cottingham, Grimsby and Scunthorpe, were expected to join others across England in the walkout, beginning at 07:00 BST on Friday.

BMA leader Dr Tom Dolphin said: "We are very sorry that strikes have become necessary."

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he did not believe the BMA had "engaged with me in good faith" over bids to avert the strike.

A spokesperson for the NHS Humber Health Partnership said patients affected by the action would be contacted.

Dr Becky Lavelle is a registrar seventh-year resident doctor for obstetrics and gynaecology

Dr Kate Wood, group chief medical officer for the health partnership, which oversees the running of the five hospitals, said: "We appreciate that there will be some patients who are seeing their appointments with us postponed, perhaps not for the first time.

"We know just how frustrating this is and we'd like to extend our apologies to anyone affected.

"Stepping down some routine care is regrettable but necessary as it allows us to focus on the most seriously ill/injured of our patients, allowing us to keep urgent, emergency care and cancer care services running."

Resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, were given a 5.4% pay rise for this financial year, following a 22% increase over the previous two years.

But the BMA said wages were still about 20% lower in real terms than in 2008.

More than half of the BMA resident doctor members voted in the ballot with 90% voting in favour of fresh action over pay.

Dr Yasmin is a second-year resident doctor

Dr Dolphin said: "We are very sorry that strikes have become necessary and of course if people have emergencies or need urgent care they should still present to the hospital or their GP as usual, as they always would.

"Striking is something that doctors don't want to have to do."

In a letter sent to NHS resident doctors, Streeting said he "deeply regrets the position we now find ourselves in" and "does not understand the rush to strike action".

He said: "Strike action should always be a last resort – not the action you take immediately following a 28.9% pay award from a government that is committed to working with you to further improve your lives at work."

Streeting added that he "was prepared to explore how many further training posts could be created – additional to the 1,000 already announced – as early as possible".

Dr Thomas Martin was on the picket line on Friday

The strike is going ahead after talks between the government and the BMA broke down on Tuesday.

The two sides discussed extra financial support for resident doctors to cover exam fees and equipment as well as faster career progression.

The BMA asked for a scheme to help write off student loans, but the government rejected this.

The industrial action is due to end on Wednesday at 07:00 BST.

GP surgeries and pharmacies will remain open during the strike, NHS bosses said.

They added patients should attend appointments as scheduled if they have not been contacted.

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